So is a second micro iDSD "Pure DAC" option totally out of the question then?

By omitting the headphone amp and volume control, you could move the filter switch to the front and leave space on the rear for a coaxial or optical input.

This version might cost less or perhaps use higher quality components. It would certainly fit better into the range alongside iUSBPower, iTUBE and iCAN whereas the all-singing all-dancing version is really a separate class of product.

So is a second micro iDSD "Pure DAC" option totally out of the question then?

By omitting the headphone amp and volume control, you could move the filter switch to the front and leave space on the rear for a coaxial or optical input.

This version might cost less or perhaps use higher quality components. It would certainly fit better into the range alongside iUSBPower, iTUBE and iCAN whereas the all-singing all-dancing version is really a separate class of product.

In an exclusive interview with Michael Lavorgna of AudioStream, Thorsten Loesch lifts the lid on:

- his atypical audio education (when he was 12, he built a 100W hifi system for his school project)
- his thoughts on the whole DSD vs PCM recording/playback subject
- why tubes are lovely
- the future of HD audio
- why he is a qualified "Tonmeister"
and a few other audio-related issues in-between!

This was a very exciting and informative read, this article stays bookmarked for reference in digital audio playback, human hearing and "audiophile" living in East Germany (I grew up there myself and my first experiences in high end gear was rather limited due to the market there but my dad had one of those tube Stern radios!) Sorry for going of topic but it brought back old memories...

So is a second micro iDSD "Pure DAC" option totally out of the question then?

By omitting the headphone amp and volume control, you could move the filter switch to the front and leave space on the rear for a coaxial or optical input.

This version might cost less or perhaps use higher quality components. It would certainly fit better into the range alongside iUSBPower, iTUBE and iCAN whereas the all-singing all-dancing version is really a separate class of product.

I would second this. I already own the iCAN and iUSB Power. I would rather have the best possible sounding line-outs possible to run into my iCAN over the myriad of features. I understand popular demand is driving this thing, but to me you should just make the best possible sounding DAC you can: an absolute, stripped down, hot rodded little DAC that fills its niche in the ifi device structure. Maybe you could make a special "AMR Edition" micro iDSD that is focused purely on the RCA outs rather than the bells and whistles.

I would second this. I already own the iCAN and iUSB Power. I would rather have the best possible sounding line-outs possible to run into my iCAN over the myriad of features. I understand popular demand is driving this thing, but to me you should just make the best possible sounding DAC you can: an absolute, stripped down, hot rodded little DAC that fills its niche in the ifi device structure. Maybe you could make a special "AMR Edition" micro iDSD that is focused purely on the RCA outs rather than the bells and whistles.

I third this idea. I also already have the iTube and the iUSB Power, and would love a pure DAC version of the micro iDSD to fit into this chain.

the thing that i am most curious about right now: when you look at the way the micro iUSB is designed, with dual USB out and the Gemini cable with a dual USB on one side...

would it actually make sense to make the input on the other side a split input as well (USB input power only plus USB input power+audio)? (of course you would need a USB cable with dual USB plugs on both sides)

If there are any sonic improvements (?) keeping the USB signal split up all the way into the device then why not.

if there is ever going to be a stand alone micro iDSD DAC, that could be part of that design.

Haven't been following the thread closely --- what will the headamp be based around?

IIRC, the iCAN and iDAC were TPA6120 and MAX97220 based, respectively. Since these are all modern IC based headphone amplifiers (well, for the iCAN, the TPA6120A2 was supposedly used just as a current buffer, utilized some kind of inductive trick to avoid the use of 10 ohm resistors for current stability), would iFi be willing to consider trying out new parts, such as the ES9601? On top of being very, very high performance in terms of specifications (122 dB SNR, -117 dB THD+N), it seems to be designed for mobile use, and draws power from single 3.3V rails (stepped up via an integrated charge pump) and eliminates DC blocking caps, so it'd be suitable for being powered by an USB power supply. On top of that, the 20-QFN package is really, really small, allowing space for other components. Other details are sparse on this yet-to-be-released part, but I assume it has good PSRR and all that jazz as well.